Anisimov Signs 3-Year Deal

The Blue Jackets have signed center Artem Anisimov to a three-year, $9.85 million contract, preventing one of their most versatile, promising forwards from becoming a restricte free agent on July 5.

Anisimov, 25, will make $2.75 million this coming season, followed by $3.1 million in 2014-15 and $4 million in 2015-16. His salary cap figure will be $3.283, and the trade does not include any no-move or no-trade restrictions.

"Artem is still young player. He's coming into his prime now with this contract," Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said. "The question for him is the same question with a lot of our young players: How bad do you want it?

"There's a notch up he can still go to become an elite player. You see it in moments now. We're hoping he makes that leap into an absolute elite in this league, because we think he has that ability."

Anisimov had 11 goals, seven assists and 18 points in 35 games with the Blue Jackets last season. He led the club in even-strength goals (10), shootout goals (four) and shooting percentage (16.2). He also won 249 faceoffs, good for third on the club.

Those numbers could climb significantly if Anisimov gets a chance to play beside Blue Jackets' star winger Marian Gaborik, and also if he can stay healthy. He was out of the lineup on four different occasions, missing 13 games with a variety of injuries, including a late-season concussion.

Anisimov came to the Blue Jackets last July in the blockbuster trade with the New York Rangers that sent Rick Nash to New York. In three years with the Rangers, he missed only three games total, while averaging 15 goals and 36 points per season.

"Arty has grown every year, wherever he's been," said Anisimov's agent, Todd Diamond. "He's gotten better and better, stronger and stronger. Three or four years ago he was a stringbean, now he has some muscle and some experience in his game.

"As that team grows in Columbus, everybody is going to produce more and hopefully Arty can lead the charge."

Cannon Fodder Podcast

Cannon Fodder is the podcast from The Dispatch sports team covering the Blue Jackets. Tune in for lively discussions about the ta and the rest of the NHL. Subscribe to the show through its RSS feed or iTunes.

Commentary from the Dispatch

Columnist Michael Arace shares his thoughts on the Blue Jackets and the NHL.